We went through big challenges for the creation of the ECNWM, but it was worth it
Given that 2020 is the jubilee year of the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the ECNWM, we conducted interviews with its chairmen who led the institution in these 15 years of existence.
The first interview was conducted with Mr. Xhemail Dauti, who was one of the main protagonists of the establishment and the First President of the ECNWM.
We invite you to read this interview.
Enjoy this interview
1) What were the circumstances that brought the idea of forming the ECNWM 15 years ago?
The founding assembly of the ECNWM was held on 11.02.2005 at the Lirak Hotel in Tetovo. The aim was to create an economic chamber in which the vast majority of Albanian businesses would be involved. This idea arose as a result of the circumstances that arose in Macedonia after the independence from the former Yugoslavia.
Given that Macedonia chose the most failed concept of privatization, as a result Albanians were left out of the process of privatization of social property, but also a good part of denationalization. This process took place quietly with the motto “Macedonian capital to remain in the hands of Macedonians”.
Albanians, within the possibilities that were created, began to establish businesses that quickly established themselves in the market and became known as businessmen with whom another economic power would be created. But in the collective organizations of businesses they were out of the process, although individually through political forces there was a pressure for change. This was followed by a change in the law on chambers of commerce, which marked the beginning of the creation of a new space for the establishment of new chambers of commerce in addition to the existing one – the Economic Chamber of Macedonia (ECM).
A group of businessmen took advantage of this moment and established the Economic Chamber of North-West Macedonia. That group detected that the Albanians had already established a sound business class in Macedonia.
2) The initial challenges that the Chamber and its first President faced?
The challenges after taking the initiative to establish the ECNWM were not insignificant. More or less a part of the businessmen were euphoric but they had a sound belief that if we create an institution of this type that will deal with creating the business environment, lobbying at home and abroad, the position and business environment would improve but it would also enable new initiatives to establish contact with other businesses in the country, region and around the world. This would expand the possibility of educating the businessmen themselves to set up their businesses, which would help raise business awareness and the level of education and the creation of professional staff.
After the establishment of the ECNWM, the Macedonian political establishment did not welcome the establishment of this institution, and the media workers characterized it as an initiative for federalization – confederalism, which will carry with it the political character. After all this we encountered problems with political power in the form and manner of registering the Chamber. The claims were that we should register as a non-governmental association and not as an economic chamber.
At first, a broader term was chosen – ” Economic Chamber of the economic circle of North-West Macedonia “.”.
The problem that was created with the government still presents a challenge, but we are already established as an institution, especially in terms of lobbying for the creation of a stronger environment in the Republic of Macedonia.
Raising business awareness that we need to have a collective approach to the problems that plague us all. Given that most Albanian businesses are individual businesses, created with self-initiative, with a lack of a wider range of business development, a good part of them do not see it as an opportunity to regulate the position and the business environment of their businesses.
We have had different periods. In the first year the membership was in greater numbers and then there were those who withdrew, and those who had difficulty joining, but now we no longer have that problem. The challenge was great because ECNWM was not ready to deal with all the responsibility at the beginning, which meant detecting and solving the problems of Albanian businesses. There were no organizational staff other than the chairman and an employee, but there was a great deal of will on the part of a good number of activists.
During the initial period, but perhaps even in the present time, there are such elements but with a lower intensity. It has been the tendency of political forces to exploit us for their political calculations, but ECNWM has always been meticulous in its function of being established as an apolitical institution that will only protect the interests of businesses and society.
The position of the ECNWM has remained conceptually from the beginning until today without political anime, with a concrete approach to the problems of businesses and social welfare, for an advancement of businesses, economy and society in general.
3) What were the early expectations and when were they realized?
I was elected ad hoc as chairman at the time of the election because a large number of founders were inclined for the chairman to be from a well-established company in the market and with a more serious influence.
With great enthusiasm I thought that very soon Albanian companies would embrace this idea and in a short time of six months to a year we will raise this institution to the desired level. I thought it would be structured very quickly, but on the contrary the realization of the concept and the goals we had as initiators and founders lasted for a very long period.
Concrete ideas and projects began to be realized sometime after six years, where during that period we created various relations with state institutions starting from the Assembly, the President, the Government, Ministries and various institutions, we began to be recognized in international institutions, by diplomatic representatives, embassies of countries that have an impact on the creation of economic and other policies in North Macedonia, the representation of the European Union, the Embassy of the United States of America, the Embassy of Germany, etc. We established healthy relations with all these institutions as well as with economic chambers in the country, in Kosovo, Albania, Turkey, Italy and in many other countries of the world.
This prompted businesses to get closer to the Chamber, giving them the opportunity to use the Chamber’s services.
Although a little late, I think that the concept and purpose slowly came out and after all this we are fully convinced that it was fully worth the effort, and we have gone through serious challenges to create this important institution.
4) The summary description that characterized and distinguished that period of leadership of the institution on your part?
The period from its inception until I was President was characterized by many challenges, it was difficult to separate the institution from the influences of political forces to exploit us for political purposes. Circumstances in the Macedonian economy were as described earlier, not in favor of individual businesses and businesses managed by Albanians, but by creating private businesses with difficulty, they have created a self-confidence that everything can be done on their own, which raised the hesitation for a collective access through various associations, especially in the Economic Chambers.
A good part of the businessmen were convinced that nothing would be done, given that in that period and previous periods Albanians alongside the establishment of political parties have had initiatives to create associations of other activities and a good part of them failed, all because of unpreparedness.
It has happened to me often in conversations with businessmen while inviting them to join, to say that we will function for a while and then we will disappear. A phenomenon that is no longer present.
In the initial stages there were also financial problems for capacity building of the Chamber, during the period when I was chairman the financial support was from the self-financing of the Chamber, until we started to apply through projects, we changed the law for the Chamber to be able to license and public services in accordance with what the Economic Chamber of Macedonia performed.
